Conservation Areas are full of adventure and are just waiting to be explored! There are so many great stories to tell about visits to these natural gems, and we have shared some of our experiences and the experiences of others with you on this page. We encourage you to browse through the stories below and then Step Into Nature with family and friends to create your own ‘story to tell’!

Renowned as the best vantage point in the Niagara Peninsula to observe the annual spring hawk migration, Beamer Memorial Conservation Area also offers one of the most breathtaking and panoramic views of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. Take a walk along the scenic Lookout Trail and soak up the picturesque views of the 40 Mile Creek Valley, the Lake Ontario shoreline and the escarpment ridge from one of our viewing platforms. Don’t forget your binoculars; you’ll be sure to enjoy the view! There is also access to the Bruce Trail at this Conservation Area.

This small Conservation Area offers a large viewing deck with a spectacular view of Smith’s Bay and Waupoos Island, with Prince Edward Bay and Prince Edward Point lying just beyond. You can watch the gulls cavort over the bay. To the southeast lies the beautiful village of Waupoos, an Indian word for the “land of the running rabbit.” Waupoos Island lies straight ahead, and further back, Point Travers stretches out into Lake Ontario with Timber Island (more than 15 km away) shimmering on the distant horizon.

From the escarpment brow, noted for its panoramas, to the forested depths of the gorge below, the Spencer Gorge/Webster's Falls Conservation Area exhibits the physical features which have made the Niagara Escarpment one of Ontario's most spectacular geological formations. A nature trail allows access to the Dundas Peak, which provides stunning views of Dundas and Hamilton. Other pathways passing through the park include the Bruce Trail, and a side-trail to historic Crook's Hollow Conservation Area. Through every season, Spencer Gorge offers beautiful natural landscapes - from vibrant forests in summer and dazzling autumn foliage to frozen waterfalls that sparkle in winter.

If Mount Nemo sounds inviting and worth discovering it's because this conservatino area has one of the best cliff ecosystems on Ontario's Niagara Escarpment. Rich green ferns blanket limestone boulders scattered among old growth forests that are alive with jewel like birds. Crevice caves and ancient cedars, a thousand years old, can be seen all along the meandering cliff trail. An interpretive lookout with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside lets visitors know why this natural environment is worth protecting. Parking and connections to the Bruce Trail are available at this conservation area. From the Brock Harris Lookout, 295 metres above sea level, 50 kilometres of countryside come into view. The communities of Milton, Brampton and Toronto, and the Nassagaweya Canyon and Rattlesnake Point are spread out across the horizon. On a clear day you can even spot the CN Tower and Lake Ontario. Look for turkey vultures gliding in the thermal updrafts near the cliffs.

The Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area has some of the most inspiring scenic viewing found anywhere. Five breathtaking lookouts dot the edge of towering cliffs of Ontario 's striking Niagara Escarpment. With excellent hiking trails, this natural environment park is perfect for that therapeutic walk in the woods during any season. You can soak up this relaxed atmosphere even longer by enjoying a picnic in the grassy meadows or an overnight stay at one of the group campsites. For the adventuresome, Rattlesnake Point has three designated sites where experienced rock climbers can scale challenging cliffs under a canopy of rich woods. Hiking enthusiasts can trek the Bruce Trail through the Nassagaweya Canyon complete with trail connections to Crawford Lake . Rattlesnake Point’s 12 kilometres of trails, along with its five spectacular lookouts (Buffalo Crag Lookout, Nassagaweya Lookout, Nelson Lookout, Pinnacle Lookout and Trafalgar Lookout) dotting the edge of towering cliffs makes for some of the best scenic viewing available on the Niagara Escarpment.

Petticoat Creek Conservation Area is located on the shores of Lake Ontario and offers an incredible view of the bluffs. The area consists of 70 hectares of land located at the mouth of Petticoat Creek and boasts forests, meadows and fields, picnic areas, and an all new aquatic entertainment facility for the 2011 season. The Waterfront Trail running through the conservation area is part of the 730km Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail extending from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Ontario-Quebec border on the St. Lawrence.

Enjoy the awe inspiring view from the top of the new 30ft tall lookout tower! Sager Conservation Area offers picnicking, trails and a scenic lookout. The area is part of a glacial feature known as Oak Lake Island, a series of large drumlins that formed an island in glacial Lake Iroquois. The drumlin in the conservation area is one of the highest points of land in the area and provides an excellent point from which to view the surrounding countyside including part of the Trent River valley. A short 1 kilometre trail starts at the base of the hill and climbs steeply to a scenic lookout tower, offering spectacular panoramic views of the area.

Baxter Conservation Area offers 68 hectares of outdoor fun! Follow over five kilometres of trails through wetlands, conifer plantations, mixed forest, alder thickets, nut groves and a solar energy display. Enjoy a peaceful view of the scenic Rideau River from the trail or splash and play at the sandy beach. In addition to trails, Baxter Conservation Area has a high tower lookout that looks out over a marsh along the Rideau Canal.

Foley Mountain Conservation Area is famous for its “Spy Rock” Lookout high a top a 70 metre granite outcrop over looking Upper Rideau Lake and the village of Westport. Great picnic and rest stop for visitors to the site. The Conservation Area consists of 325 hectares (800 acres) of mixed forests, ponds, and fields. The five hiking trails, group camp area, scenic Spy Rock lookout, and picnic areas set the stage for a quality outdoor education experience.

Located on the Tay Marsh, Perth Wildlife Reserve nurtures a variety of diverse plant and wildlife species. Deer, ducks, Canada geese, rabbits, bluebirds and wild turkeys are some of the wildlife that is found on this 257-hectare reserve. This conservation area is specifically geared to wildlife management and quiet observations. Take your time, keep your eyes open and enjoy the brand new tower lookout that looks out over a vast landscape.

Explore forests, marshlands, and glacial erratics at Scanlon Creek Conservation Area. A trail system runs throughout the conservation area, providing hikers with a chance to explore most of the 300 hectare property. The remainder is a nature preserve to help protect the flora and fauna that reside in the area. In the spring, wildflowers and migrating birds are plentiful, and the fall colours are spectacular. During summer months picnicking or fishing in the four hectare reservoir, make Scanlon a great place to spend a few hours or an entire day.